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Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Security forces arrest six JI suspects in Manila pre-dawn raids (12:57 a.m.)
MANILA - Philippine security forces arrested six Filipino members of a suspected Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist cell and seized explosives in pre-dawn raids in Manila on Tuesday, intelligence sources said.
The raids were carried out in a mainly Muslim district of eastern Manila by members of the security forces on the eve of President Arroyo's inauguration Wednesday.
Bomb-making equipment and five kilograms (11 pounds) of explosives were confiscated in the raids, the sources said.
Security forces would not give details about the arrests but named the six Filipino Muslims as Arnold Kamansa, said to be the leader of the cell; Ahmad Ento, Anwar Adam, Mama Tangkalassay, Mike Tuwa and a man named Carlos.
Security forces in the Philippines have been on high alert ahead of Arroyo's pre-inauguration speech in Manila on Wednesday morning before she is formally sworn in as president in the city of Cebu later in the day.
Troops from Tarlac province north of Manila were moved into the capital Monday to counter any trouble from opposition supporters of defeated actor Fernando Poe Jr.
Supporters of Poe, who lost the May 10 election to Arroyo by just over one million votes, are expected to converge on Manila's financial district Wednesday and proclaim Poe president in a mass rally.
The arrests of the JI suspects follows the visit of Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander-in-chief of the United States Pacific Command over the weekend. AFP |
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